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51
PART V
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The following report indicates the work carried out by the
Maternity and Child Welfare Department from January 1st to
July 4th, 1948, when the services were transferred under the
National Health Service Act of 1946 to the Middlesex County
Council.
Municipal Midwifery Service.
During the period under review 14 midwives were employed
in the Municipal Midwifery Service, 4 less than in the previous
year. The work of the midwives continued to consist chiefly of
visits to expectant mothers in their homes, attendances at antenatal
clinics, and the delivery of the mothers who had arranged
for home confinement. Each mother was visited for 14 days following
the birth of her baby. Two visits were paid on the first three
days and two or more on any day should the mother's or baby's
condition so require.
The total births notified during this period of the year was
1,229. Of these 38 were still-births, leaving a total of 1,191 live
births. The midwives attended 554 cases, 15 of which were as
maternity nurses. Gas and air analgesia was used wherever
requested and no midwives employed, with the exception of two
who were about to retire, failed to complete the course of training
in analgesia.
Premature infants received extra care from the midwife and
much time has been spent establishing breast feeding and ministering
to the special needs of these babies.